Wagering game system with pausing feature

ABSTRACT

A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a gaming machine and a controller operatively associated with the gaming machine. The controller is configured to temporarily pause a game-in progress on the gaming machine following the occurrence of a pause event. The controller is also configured to reinstate a game-in progress on the gaming machine following the occurrence of an end-pause event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national phase of, and claims priority to,International Application No. PCT/US2006/022793 filed Jun. 9, 2006 whichclaims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/690,770, filed Jun. 15, 2005, both of which are incorporated byreference in their entirety.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patentfiles or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present concepts relate generally to gaming machines and methods forplaying wagering games, and more particularly, to gaming systems andmethods having a pausing feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and thelike, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years.Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent onthe likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machineand the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to otheravailable gaming options. Where the available gaming options include anumber of competing machines and the expectation of winning at eachmachine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players arelikely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines.Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining andexciting machines, features, and enhancements available because suchmachines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to theoperator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machinemanufacturers to continuously develop new games and improved gamingenhancements that will attract frequent play through enhancedentertainment value to the player.

One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance theentertainment value of a game is the concept of a “secondary” or “bonus”game that may be played in conjunction with a “basic” game. The bonusgame may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completelydifferent from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of aselected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus gamesprovide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and mayalso be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displaysand/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with“progressive jackpot” awards that are funded, at least in part, by apercentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality ofparticipating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offerstremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to otherknown games, and because such games are attractive to both players andoperators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines withnew types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players andoperators.

To enhance the excitement of the bonus games, one type of wagering gameprovides group games in which a plurality of gaming terminals are linkedtogether and, at some point following termination of game play on eachterminal, the respective gaming terminals are introduced into the groupgame. A problem resulting from this approach includes delays inimplementing the group game attributable to lagging game play at one ormore terminals. The present invention is directed to addressing at leastthis problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the concept of interrupting active game play ora game-in-progress and putting such game-in-progress on hold to play aspecial feature such as, but not limited to, a community game. After thespecial feature has concluded, the game-in-progress is resumed where itwas interrupted.

In one aspect of the present concepts, a gaming system for playing awagering game includes a gaming machine and a controller operativelyassociated with the gaming machine. The controller is configured totemporarily pause a game-in progress on the gaming machine following theoccurrence of a pause event. The controller is also configured toreinstate a game-in progress on the gaming machine following theoccurrence of an end-pause event.

In another aspect of the present concepts, a method of conducting awagering game includes the acts of initiating game play of a wageringgame on a gaming machine and temporarily pausing the wageringgame-in-progress to conduct a special feature. The method also includesthe acts of conducting the special feature on the gaming machine and,after a conclusion of the special feature, reinstating a game-inprogress on the gaming machine from a point at which the wagering gameplay was paused.

In still another aspect of the present concepts, a gaming system forplaying wagering games that allow a player to be eligible for acommunity-event includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and oneor more controllers operatively associated with the linked gamingmachines. The controller is configured to cause a pause in agame-in-progress on one or more of the linked gaming machines inresponse to an occurrence of a randomly-generated community-eventtriggering outcome.

In yet another aspect of the present concepts, a method of conducting awagering game on a gaming machine includes the acts of conducting afirst game, interrupting the first game and pausing the first game, andconducting a special feature. The method also includes the act ofresuming the first game from where it was put on hold at the conclusionof the special feature.

Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of variousembodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a briefdescription of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for operating thegaming machine;

FIG. 3 is an example of a gaming system in accord with the presentconcepts.

FIG. 4 is a representation of one aspect of an example of a gamingsystem display prior to an initiation of a pausing event in accord withthe present concepts.

FIG. 5 is a representation of one aspect of an example of a gamingsystem display at an initiation of a pausing event in accord with thepresent concepts.

FIG. 6 is a representation of one aspect of an example of a gamingsystem display subsequent to initiation of a pausing event in accordwith the present concepts.

FIG. 7 depicts acts in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gamingestablishments such as casinos. With regard to the present invention,the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine and may havevarying structures and methods of operation. For example, the gamingmachine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming machine configured to playmechanical slots, or it may be an electronic gaming machine configuredto play a video casino game, such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker,blackjack, roulette, etc.

The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes input devices,including a value input device 18 and a player input device 24. Foroutput the gaming machine 10 includes a primary display 14 fordisplaying information about the basic wagering game. The primarydisplay 14 can also display information about a bonus wagering game anda progressive wagering game. The gaming machine 10 may also include asecondary display 16 for displaying game events, game outcomes, and/orsignage information. While these typical components found in the gamingmachine 10 are described below, it is to be understood that numerousother elements may exist and may be used in any combination to createvarious forms of a gaming machine 10.

The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms, individually orin combination, and is preferably located on the front of the housing12. The value input device 18 receives currency and/or credits that areinserted by a player. The value input device 18 may include a coinacceptor 20 for receiving coin currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, orin addition, the value input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22for receiving paper currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 mayinclude a ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading informationstored on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable creditstorage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access to acentral account, which can transfer money to the gaming machine 10.

The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push buttons 26 on abutton panel for operating the gaming machine 10. In addition, oralternatively, the player input device 24 may comprise a touch screen 28mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like over the primary display 14and/or secondary display 16. The touch screen 28 contains soft touchkeys 30 denoted by graphics on the underlying primary display 14 andused to operate the gaming machine 10. The touch screen 28 providesplayers with an alternative method of input. A player enables a desiredfunction either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touchkey 30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button panel.The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same functions as pushbuttons 26. Alternatively, push buttons 26 may provide inputs for oneaspect of the operating the game, while touch keys 30 may allow forinput needed for another aspect of the game.

The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be connecteddirectly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen in FIG. 1, ormay be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the housing12 via a variety of different wired or wireless connection methods.Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises these components whether housed inthe housing 12, or outboard of the housing 12 and connected remotely.

The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the player onthe primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also display thebonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The primary display14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a high resolution LCD,a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of display suitable for usein the gaming machine 10. As shown, the primary display 14 includes thetouch screen 28 overlaying the entire monitor (or a portion thereof) toallow players to make game-related selections. Alternatively, theprimary display 14 of the gaming machine 10 may include a number ofmechanical reels to display the outcome in visual association to atleast one payline 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine10 is an “upright” version in which the primary display 14 is orientedvertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming machine maybe a “slant-top” version in which the primary display 14 is slanted atabout a thirty-degree angle toward the player of the gaming machine 10.

A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a wager viathe value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A player can selectplay by using the player input device 24, via the buttons 26 or thetouch screen keys 30. The basic game consists of a plurality of symbolsarranged in an array, and includes at least one payline 32 thatindicates one or more outcomes of the basic game. Such outcomes arerandomly selected in response to the wagering input by the player. Atleast one of the plurality of randomly selected outcomes may be astart-bonus outcome, which can include any variations of symbols orsymbol combinations triggering a bonus game.

In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include a playerinformation reader 52 that allows for identification of a player byreading a card with information indicating his or her true identity. Theplayer information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1 as a card reader, butmay take on many forms including a ticket reader, bar code scanner, RFIDtransceiver or computer readable storage medium interface. Currently,identification is generally used by casinos for rewarding certainplayers with complimentary services or special offers. For example, aplayer may be enrolled in the gaming establishment's loyalty club andmay be awarded certain complimentary services as that player collectspoints in his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his orher card into the player information reader 52, which allows thecasino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gamingmachine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16 orother dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player withinformation about his or her account or other player-specificinformation. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52 may beused to restore game assets that the player achieved and saved during aprevious game session.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming machine 10are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34, also referred toherein as a controller or processor (such as a microcontroller ormicroprocessor). To provide gaming functions, the controller 34 executesone or more game programs stored in a computer readable storage medium,in the form of memory 36. The controller 34 performs the randomselection (using a random number generator (RNG)) of an outcome from theplurality of possible outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, therandom event may be determined at a remote controller. The remotecontroller may use either an RNG or pooling scheme for its centraldetermination of a game outcome. It should be appreciated that thecontroller 34 may include one or more microprocessors, including but notlimited to a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary orparallel processor.

The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36 and amoney/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a volatilememory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a non-volatile memory(e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may include multiple RAM andmultiple program memories. The money/credit detector 38 signals theprocessor that money and/or credits have been input via the value inputdevice 18. Preferably, these components are located within the housing12 of the gaming machine 10. However, as explained above, thesecomponents may be located outboard of the housing 12 and connected tothe remainder of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a varietyof different wired or wireless connection methods.

As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to, and controls,the primary display 14, the player input device 24, and a payoffmechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in response toinstructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff to the player inresponse to certain winning outcomes that might occur in the basic gameor the bonus game(s). The payoff may be provided in the form of points,bills, tickets, coupons, cards, etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoffmechanism 40 includes both a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44.However, any of a variety of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the artmay be implemented, including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash,etc. The payoff amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 aredetermined by one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.

Communications between the controller 34 and both the peripheralcomponents of the gaming machine 10 and external systems 50 occurthrough input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More specifically, thecontroller 34 controls and receives inputs from the peripheralcomponents of the gaming machine 10 through the input/output circuits46. Further, the controller 34 communicates with the external systems 50via the I/O circuits 48 and a communication path (e.g., serial,parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.). The external systems 50 may include agaming network, other gaming machines, a gaming server, communicationshardware, another controller (e.g., 65) or a variety of other interfacedsystems or components. Although I/O circuits 46, 48 may be shown as asingle block, it should be appreciated that each of the I/O circuits 46,48 may include a number of different types of I/O circuits.

Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or resident inside and/oroutside of the gaming machine 10 that may communicate with and/orcontrol the transfer of data between the gaming machine 10 and a bus,another computer, processor, or device and/or a service and/or anetwork. The controller 34 may comprise one or more controllers orprocessors. For example, one portion of a controller 34 may control,inter alia, game-related functions for a gaming machine 10 and anotherportion of the same controller may control, inter alia, game-relatedfunctions for an attached gaming machine or group of gaming machines.Alternatively, control of such functions could be divided amongst two ormore separate controllers (e.g., 34, 65). In FIG. 2, the controller 34in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but thecontroller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with othercomponents, such as the I/O circuits 46, 48 and the system memory 36.

While the gaming machine 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described withrespect to a single wagering game providing a basic game and a bonusgame, the gaming machine 10 may be connected, or linked, to other gamingmachines for playing a community wagering game. According to oneembodiment depicted in FIG. 3, a gaming system 60 of linked gamingmachines 10 a, 10 b, 10 c, 10 d, 10 e, 10 f is shown. The gamingmachines 10 a-f are of the type described above in relation to FIGS. 1and 2. The gaming machines 10 a-f are each connected to a commoncontroller 34, which may be locally or remotely disposed and which mayoptionally reside within one of the gaming machines. Alternatively, theaforementioned gaming machines may be connected to separate controllers34 having communication paths established therebetween. An optionalsignage 62 is provided which includes a game screen 63 for displaying agame or a wagering game which, in one aspect in accord with the presentconcepts, is the BIG EVENT MONOPOLY™ game.

As shown in FIG. 3, the game screen 63 is may be viewed by all playersat the gaming machines 10 a-f. In this embodiment, the gaming system 60utilizes controller 34 and/or a separate controller 65, for controllinga special feature such as, but not limited, to a community game or thelike. Alternatively, a controller 34 associated with a selected one ofthe gaming terminals 10 a-f may be used to control a special feature formultiple gaming terminals. While six gaming machines 10 a-f are shown inFIG. 3, a greater or lesser number of gaming machines can be linkedtogether in the gaming system 60 and the gaming machines need not beadjacent or locally disposed relative to one another.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the signage 62 and the controller 65 form apart of the external system 50 in FIG. 2. The controller 65 is coupledto the controller 34 (FIG. 2) of each of the gaming machines 10 a-f suchthat the controller 34 is in communication with the controller 65. Inone embodiment, the controller 34 receives a special-feature-triggeringsignal from the controller 65. In such embodiment, the controller 65outputs (e.g., to eligible ones of gaming machines 10 a-f) such aspecial-feature-triggering signal in response to, for example, aspecial-feature outcome generated by the controller 65, aspecial-feature outcome achieved by one or more of the linked gamingmachines 10 a-f that is detected by the controller 65, or a signalcorresponding to a special feature outcome that is transmitted to thecontroller 65 by the controller 34. In one aspect, the special-featureoutcome generated by the controller 65 may comprise generation of arandom state or a random number at a specified or selected frequency. Inthe example of a random number generator, the random numbers could beselected from a predetermined range of numbers or from a selected one ormore of a plurality of such ranges of numbers. For example, thecontroller may, at selected intervals, randomly or sequentially hopthrough a plurality of random number generators having various rangesand generating random numbers at a specified frequency. Thus, thespecial-feature outcome may be varied to increase or decrease thefrequency of the special-feature or even to dictate the frequencythereof, if desired. For example, the frequency of the special-featureoutcome may be increased, in this embodiment, by increasing thefrequency of the random number generation and/or by decreasing the rangeof random numbers selectable by the controller 65. In the aspect of afixed-frequency event, eligibility requirements may be predicated uponother conditions such as, but not limited to, wagering history, time ofentry, duration of play, level of wagering, player status, randomnumbers selected by controller 65 and/or random numbers selected bycontroller 34, to ensure player appeal.

In one aspect, the random number may be compared to another number ordata generated by the controller 65 or stored on an associated memorydevice to determine whether a special-feature-triggering signal shouldbe output to gaming machine controllers 34. In another aspect, thecontroller 65 may poll controllers 34 and/or receive information outputby controllers 34 to determine whether any state of any linked gamingmachines 10 a-f corresponds to a random state (e.g., random number)generated by controller 65. The frequency and/or boundaries of thecontroller's 65 generation of a random state can thus be controlled toadjust the probability that, during any give increment of timeselectable by or programmed into the controller, a gaming machine 10 a-f(i.e., players) would be considered eligible for entry into a specialfeature.

The controller 65 then transmits a special-event-play signal to thelinked gaming machines 10 a-f, the signal enabling or initiating thespecial feature. The linking of the controller(s) 34 associated witheach of the gaming machines 10 a-f to the controller 65 may beselectively enabled and/or disabled in accord with satisfaction ofpreconditions to entry into a special feature, as determined by thecontroller 34. Alternatively, the linking of the controller(s) 34associated with each of the gaming machines 10 a-f to the controller 65may be an open linkage wherein the controller 65 receives informationfrom controller 34 and particulars of basic wagering game play on thegaming machines and independently determines eligibility of a particulargaming machine to participate in a special feature.

The special feature is displayed on the display 14 of selected gamingmachines 10 a-f if the controller(s) (e.g., 34, 65) determine that theparticular gaming machines (e.g., 10 a-d) are eligible for the specialfeature. Although the eligibility criteria may be uniform, theeligibility criteria may optionally be varied between the gamingmachines to take into account variables such as, but not limited to, thewager placed by a player or the player's history.

In accord with the present concepts, a triggering signal may be used toactivate a pause feature and pause a game-in-progress on a gamingmachine (e.g., 10 a-f). The game-in-progress, which is subject to thepause feature disclosed herein, may comprise a basic wagering game, abonus game, a progressive game, a special feature, or any other wageringgame or associated game played on a gaming machine, such as theaforementioned gaming machine 10 or gaming machines 10 a-f. In oneexample, a player engaged in a basic wagering game at a gaming machine10 may be invited to participate in a special feature initiated at afirst community of gaming terminals 10 a-f. The player, having electedto participate in the special feature initiated at the first communityof gaming terminals 10 a-f and having paused the basic wagering gamein-progress, may be invited to join a special feature of a secondcommunity of gaming terminals 10 g-10 m while the first community'sspecial feature is in progress. The present concepts thus provide aplayer with opportunities to decide, while playing a game, whether ornot to take advantage of other time-limited opportunities which mightarise.

A triggering signal may originate in, for example, one controller (e.g.,34) and be output to another controller (e.g., 65). In one aspect, thetriggering signal may be output from the controller 65, used to regulatethe special feature amongst a plurality of gaming machines 10 a-10 flinked thereto, following satisfaction of a condition precedent toparticipation in the special feature by one or more of the gamingmachines. The triggering signal output from controller 65 is thentransmitted to the gaming machines 10 a-f controllers 34 to initiate thepause feature. It is to be noted that the actual origin of thetriggering signal is not necessarily relevant to the present conceptsand the present concepts are not limited to triggering signalsoriginating from any particular source. Moreover, it is to be understoodthat the term signal, as defined herein, includes not only the presenceof a signal, but also includes the absence of or interruption of anotherwise constant, substantially constant, or intermittent signal.

Continuing with the BIG EVENT MONOPOLY™ example, noted above, players atthe gaming machines 10 a-f conduct individual basic wagering games andany associated gaming machine level game such as, but not limited to, alocal bonus game. Such basic game play at any of the given machines isgenerally conducted independently of basic game play at any of the othergaming machines. Once the group bonus game or community game istriggered by a triggering signal, such as by a predetermined outcome oroutcomes at one or more gaming machines 10-f or the controller 65, alleligible players at the linked gaming machines 10 a-f, or subsetthereof, may participate in the special feature. In one example,eligibility may be open to any person playing a wagering game at one ofthe gaming machines 10 a-f. In another example, eligibility may beoptionally preconditioned upon an eligibility requirement such as, butnot limited to a player's wagering at a certain level (which may be timedependent) or achieving a certain player status.

In accord with one general embodiment, the gaming system 60 (FIG. 3) forplaying a wagering game includes a gaming machine, such as the gamingmachine 10 or gaming machines 10 a-f generally described above, and thecontroller(s) (e.g., 65; FIG. 3) operatively associated therewith. Thecontroller (e.g., 65) is configured to pause a game-in-progress on thegaming machine 10 upon the occurrence of a pause event, which mayinclude receipt of a pause signal and/or determination by the controllerthat a particular pause-triggering outcome has occurred. Thepause-triggering outcome could include any outcome(s), event(s), orcondition(s) at a particular gaming machine 10, across a group of gamingmachines 10 a-f, or at the controller 65 itself. For a stand-alonggaming machine 10, the pause-triggering outcome may include an outcomeactivating a game feature in the basic wagering game. For a group ofgaming machines 10 a-f or the controller 65 itself, the pause-triggeringoutcome may include an outcome activating another game, such as specialfeature. The controller (e.g., 34, 65), upon determining that thepause-triggering outcome has occurred, pauses games-in-progress ongaming machines 10 a-f eligible to participate in such game.

In another example, the pause event may comprise a signal originatingfrom an external (i.e., not game-related) source, such as a casinomessage service, concierge or other authorized person (e.g., a player'sspouse or friends) sending a message to a particular player logged intoa gaming machine. The player may also advantageously be provided theoption to selectively disable or otherwise opt out of pause signals fromselected external sources. In yet another example, the pause signal maybe manually initiated by the player of the gaming machine through anappropriate input device 24.

FIG. 4 shows a representation of a gaming system display 14 having aplurality of reels 120 a-e bearing symbols 125 consistent with aMONOPOLY™ theme. In the instant of time represented in FIG. 4, a game isin-progress and reels 120 a-b have stopped to show symbols 125 (i.e.,houses and deeds, respectively) associated with a predetermined randomoutcome, whereas reels 120 c-e remain in motion. FIG. 5 is arepresentation of the game-in-progress display 100 shown in FIG. 4 at aninitiation of a pausing event in accord with the present concepts,discussed infra, wherein a pause screen 101 is superimposed over aportion of the game-in-progress display.

FIG. 5 shows one example of a pause screen 101 announcing “BIG EVENTBONUS AWARDED” on the main display 14 of the gaming machine 10. Thepause screen 101 could generally assume any static or dynamic shape,form, or characteristic, suitable to inform the player of the gamingmachine 10 that the game has just been paused. Broadly, the concept ofthe pause screen 101 could be extended to non-visual aspects tofacilitate gaming machine 10 embodiments suitable for persons havingvisual impairments. In various aspects of the illustrated example, thepause screen 101 could be partially or wholly opaque, to varyingdegrees, to permit the entirety of or selected portions of thegame-in-progress display 100 on display 14 to be visible beneath thepause screen. In another aspect, the periphery of the pause screen 101could be sufficiently opaque to permit the periphery of thegame-in-progress display 100 to be visible beneath the pause screen,while the center portion of the game-in-progress display is entirelyobscured by the corresponding center portion of the pause screen.

In another aspect, shown in FIG. 6, a paused game-in-progress display102 is minimized and positioned toward an outer, upper portion of thedisplay 14. The subsequent screen(s) 103 related to the special featureor special event, or the like, may then occupy a central, prominentposition on the display 14, while the minimized screen-shot of thepaused game-in-progress display 102 and/or pause screen 101 provides avisual marker for the player. FIG. 6 shows a generic representation of asubsequent screen 103, titled “GROUP GAME,” related to a special featureand is not intended to be limiting in any respect, but is rather showingone possible disposition of the paused game-in-progress display 102relative to the subsequent screen 103. The subsequent screen(s) 103 may,for example, advantageously occupy the entirety of display 14 or only aportion thereof, as shown. This aspect of the present concepts thusutilizes picture-in-picture technology to maintain visual continuitybetween the paused game-in-progress screen 102 and subsequent screens103 when the game-in-progress is paused.

In another aspect, the paused game-in-progress display 102 need not bedirectly shown and the paused game-in-progress display may berepresented on the display 14 by an icon or other visual marker. Forexample, instead of showing the actual paused game-in-progress display102, the logo or title of the original game or icon representing thegame may be displayed at an outer periphery of the display 14 with a“GAME ON HOLD” text displayed adjacent thereto. In another aspect, thepaused game-in-progress display 102 could be shown without anyassociated text. In other words, the paused game-in-progress display 102could simply be depicted in minimized form or in some other form on theprimary display 14 or a secondary display with the reels-in-playcontinuing to spin (e.g., reels 120 c-e in FIG. 3). Although it ispresently preferred to show the paused game-in-progress display 102 onthe display 14, in some capacity, it is not required in accord with thepresent concepts and may be omitted.

In still other aspects, the pause screen 101 and/or pausedgame-in-progress display 102 could optionally comprise a banner and/or amessage superimposed over a background graphic. In one aspect, as shownin FIG. 6, the minimized paused game-in-progress display 102 couldoptionally comprise a banner positioned over the minimized pausedgame-in-progress display, or a portion thereof, with the proclamation“GAME ON HOLD”. The banner or message may be positioned, for example,across only a portion of the paused game-in-progress display, 102 suchas a top, side, diagonal, or center portion thereof. The banner and/ormessage could likewise be static or dynamic (e.g., flashing, moving,rotating, color-changing, shape-changing, etc.) and could be positionedin any desired fixed position and angle or to move within anypredetermined constraints on or relative to the game-in-progress display100, pause screen 101, or paused game-in-progress display 102. Forexample, the banner, message, or other background graphic mayalternatively move across or relative to the game-in-progress display100, pause screen 101, or paused game-in-progress display 102 in accordwith a predetermined or random scheme.

The pause event or pause screen 101 may also include graphics, such as adisplaying an effect, icon, animation, picture or image, light(s), orsequence of light(s) to convey the occurrence of the pause event to aplayer of the gaming machine. Graphics may be used in conjunction withor in lieu of the aforementioned message(s) and/or banner(s) and thegraphics may appear on the game-in-progress display 100 so as to precedethe actual pausing of the game-in-progress or pause screen 101. In anembodiment relying exclusively on graphics to convey the message of thepause event to a player, the meaning behind the selected graphic(s)would preferably be self-evident and/or conducive to a simpleexplanation in the posted or available game rules. In one aspect,graphics associated with the pause function may include the appearanceof a computer-generated character or animation representative of thegame-in-progress on the display of the game-in-progress, whereupon thegame-in-progress is paused. As one example, a Mr. Monopoly™ charactercould stroll onto the game-in-progress display and wave his hand tofreeze the game-in-progress. The computer-generated or animatedcharacter (e.g., Mr. Monopoly™) could then motion to player to selectfrom one of a plurality of options, such as by a wave of the hand and/ora pointing motion to one or more player-selectable buttons includingoptions for ignoring the pause event and for responding affirmatively tothe pause event. In another example, the graphics may be localized toonly a portion of the display, such as a graphic or effect superimposedover or associated with the as-yet unrevealed random events of agame-in-progress (e.g., spinning video reels, face-down cards, etc.).

The pause event may also include or consist of an audio output, eitheralone or in accompaniment of the aforementioned graphics or messages.The pause event could thus optionally include or consist of a sound,tone or tonal sequence, audio clip, music clip, computer-generatedvoice, or the like, which precedes or accompanies the actual pausing ofa game-in-progress. For example, the player could be instructed by avoice output over a gaming machine speaker to press or move a particularplayer input device 24 within a specified period of time to enter into aspecial feature. In another example, a distinctive sound such as arailroad whistle or the sounds of coins flowing from a jackpot, may beused to denote the need for a player to tale an affirmative actionwithin a specified period of time to enter a special event,community-game, or the like.

In accord with the above, the pause event may include any combination ofgraphic, audio, and/or mechanical output through an appropriate outputdevice such as, but not limited to a display, speaker, and transducer.

The controller (e.g., 34, 65) may also be configured to reinstate agame-in progress on the gaming machine (e.g., 10, 10 a) following theoccurrence of an end-pause event, which includes an end-pause triggeringoutcome and/or the receipt of an end-pause signal (i.e., all end-pauseevent). In one aspect, the pause event could be a timed event and theend-pause event could simply comprise the expiration of thepredetermined time period for the pause event. In other aspects, theend-pause triggering outcome may include any event(s), outcome(s) orcombinations thereof on the player's gaming machine (e.g., 10 a) and/oranother gaming machine linked together with the player's gaming machine.For example, the end-pause triggering outcome may include an event oroutcome in a special feature which terminates an associated specialfeature game and is adapted to reinstate play of any pausedgames-in-progress. The end-pause signal may also comprise aplayer-initiated signal transmitted from a player input device 24.

As shown in FIG. 7, other aspects of the present concepts include amethod of conducting a wagering game including the act of initiatinggame play on a gaming machine or, stated differently, conducting a firstgame on the gaming machine (S500). The method also includes the act ofpausing a game-in-progress (e.g., pausing the first game) in act (S510).The method includes, subsequent to the act of pausing of agame-in-progress in act S510, the acts of conducting a special feature(S520) and of reinstating a game-in progress (i.e., the first game),preferably on the same gaming machine, from a point at which thegame-in-progress was paused (S530).

In another method in accord with the present concepts, represented bythe dashed line in FIG. 7, the act of pausing the game-in-progress(S510) follows the occurrence of a pause-triggering outcome and/or pausesignal (S515). In an alternative embodiment, the act of reinstating(S520) follows the occurrence of an end-pause triggering outcome and/orend-pause signal (S525).

As noted above, the special feature may comprise a community gameamongst a plurality of linked gaming terminals and the first game orgame-in-progress may comprise an individual game or basic wagering gameplayed on a gaming machine. In one aspect, the act of pausing (S510) istriggered by a controller 65 configured to control a community game orby a controller 34 in another linked gaming machine. The controllers 34,65 may output a pause signal as part of a controller random trigger orby a game-related trigger, such as a “start community bonus” outcome atanother machine within a community of machines. The trigger itself isnot a requirement of the present concepts. Further, the special featurein accord with the present concepts is not limited to game-relatedfunctions, games, and/or features and broadly includes non-game relatedfunctions, games, and/or features. The special feature includes, forexample, non-game related messaging sent to a player or to a gamingmachine display or non-game related functions which require pausing of agame-in-progress.

The act of pausing (S510) may include, for example, any of theaforementioned graphic, audio, or mechanical outputs, or the like. Theplayer may optionally be permitted to select, concurrent with the act ofpausing (S510), an option from a plurality of selectable optionsconcerning the act of pausing. The selectable options could include, forexample, an option for continuing the game-in progress and an option forpursuing an action other than immediately continuing the game-inprogress. Such other action could include, for example, entry into aspecial feature or selecting another paused game-in-progress forcontinued play.

The present concepts also include a computer readable storage medium ormedia encoded with instructions for directing one or more gamingmachines to perform the aforementioned acts.

In accord with the above concepts, game-play flexibility is enhanced, bypermitting a player to move back and forth between one or moregames-in-progress, special features, and other functions available tothe player. For example, a player may be permitted to finish one bonusgame and then swap back to play a paused game-in-progress while otherplayers in a community game finish playing their game. This allows bothplayer and wagering game operators to improve efficiency. Thus, thepresent concepts facilitate a multi-player environment in which bonustriggers outside of the original game can add to a player's game withminimal disruption. The present concepts further address issuesregarding bonuses activated outside of the player's main game operation,such as in multi-player games with time-triggered bonuses or otherplayer-triggered bonuses, and permit the interruption of a player's gameat any point without requiring that the game be finished.

Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplatedas falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, whichis set forth in the following claims. For example, the present conceptsinclude the use of multiple player-initiated pause signals to cyclebetween multiple games-in-progress. This concept is similar to thepractice of playing multiple BINGO cards at the same time. Further, theappended claims reflect certain aspects and combinations of the presentconcepts, but are not exhaustive of all such aspects and combinations.For example, the present concepts include all possible logicalcombinations of the claims and of the various claim elements appendedhereto, without limitation, within the associated claim sets regardlessof the presently indicated dependency.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gaming system for playing a wagering game,comprising: a gaming machine configured to conduct a wagering gameresponsive to a wager; and a controller operatively associated with thegaming machine, the controller being configured to temporarily pause agame-in-progress on the gaming machine following the occurrence of apause event, and prior to a reveal of an outcome in thegame-in-progress, and to conduct a game feature on the gaming machinewhile the game-in-progress is paused, wherein the controller isconfigured to reinstate the game-in-progress on the gaming machine andreveal the outcome of the game-in-progress following the occurrence ofan end-pause event in association with the game feature, wherein thegaming machine is linked to a group of gaming machines, wherein thecontroller is configured to determine an eligibility of each of thelinked gaming machines to play a community-event, to pausegames-in-progress on the eligible gaming machines in response to a pauseevent, and to control the community-event on the participating eligiblegaming machines, and wherein the controller is configured to reinstategames-in-progress on the participating eligible gaming machines inresponse to an end-pause event.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1, whereinthe pause event comprises a controller-generated random outcome adaptedto initiate at least one of a special feature triggering-outcome and acommunity-event triggering-outcome.
 3. The gaming system of claim 1,further comprising: a gaming machine controller, wherein the controlleris an external controller linked to the gaming machine and is configuredto cause a temporary pause in a game-in-progress on the gaming machinein response to an occurrence of the pause event by outputting a pausesignal to the gaming machine controller.
 4. The gaming system of claim1, wherein in response to the pause event, the controller is configuredto output from at least one output device associated with the gamingmachine a message to a player of the gaming machine relating to thepause-triggering outcome, wherein said output device comprises at leastone of a display, speaker, and transducer, and wherein said messagecomprises at least one of a sound, audio clip, music clip,computer-generated voice, picture, textual message, image, icon,animation, video, graphic, effect, and mechanical movement appropriateto said output device.